- Bitway ($BTW), Pearl ($PRL), and Monero ($XMR) led the top gainers this week, with $BTW hitting a record $2.70 peak and $PRL rising nearly 30% to $2.10.
- MemeCore ($M), Pump.fun ($PUMP), and Midnight ($NIGHT) experienced steep weekly declines ranging from 18% to 23%, facing oversold technical conditions near key support zones.
- Micro-cap tokens saw extreme price swings, with TAU FA ($TAUFA) posting a 252% increase, while Talus ($US) plummeted 74%.
Altcoin Market Review: Bulls Push New Highs While Major De-risking Emerges
The cryptocurrency market delivered divergent price action over the past week as capital rotated selectively into outperforming assets, while memecoin and select privacy infrastructure tokens suffered sharp pullbacks. Technical structures indicate that while bullish momentum propelled select tokens into price discovery, profit-taking and distribution patterns quickly materialized across higher-timeframe resistance bands.
Leading the winning cohort, Bitway ($BTW) surged to a fresh all-time high of $2.70, briefly bringing the psychological $3.00 milestone into view. However, an overbought Relative Strength Index (RSI) quickly signaled exhaustion. The token experienced an intraday reversal of more than 5%, sliding toward the $2.30 level as long-term holders took profits. Technical analysts note that $1.80 marks the primary baseline support; a breakdown beneath $1.80 could risk accelerating liquidations. Maintaining footing above $2.30 remains vital for bulls aiming to target $3.00.
AI-focused Pearl ($PRL) also logged substantial upside, gaining roughly 30% to hit an all-time peak of $2.10 on October 14. Strong demand met resistance near the top, pulling $PRL back to around $1.87 at press time. Market participants are watching the $2.00 to $2.10 band, where a clean breakout could yield new highs, whereas a drop toward $1.70 would threaten to invalidate the weekly uptrend. Meanwhile, privacy stalwart Monero ($XMR) advanced from $537 to $570, breaking above its $565 barrier. Despite the upward push, the breakout remains unconfirmed, with $575 and $600 serving as immediate barriers. Losing the $565 mark on a weekly closing basis would open downside risk toward the $540–$550 range.
Beyond the larger names, several lower-cap tokens recorded massive single-week jumps. TAU FA ($TAUFA) paced the broader crypto ecosystem with a 252% explosion, accompanied by Quack AI ($Q), which jumped 233%, and Verified Emeralds ($VEREM), which gained 121%.
Weekly Decliners: Memecoin and Privacy Infrastructure Face Heavy Outflows
On the downside, MemeCore ($M) registered the steepest decline among prominent tokens, tumbling nearly 23% in its fourth straight week of negative returns. After failing to defend the $2.00 zone, selling pressure forced the Layer-1 asset down to late-June support at $0.80, pushing numerous short-term holders underwater. While the daily RSI has entered oversold territory—hinting at a possible relief rebound toward $1.00 or near-term consolidation around $0.70—a failure to sustain $0.70 could trigger extended losses.
Solana-based memecoin launchpad Pump.fun ($PUMP) similarly struggled, shedding almost 20% over the week. Bears established control by driving $PUMP beneath the $0.00475 threshold. Although technical indicators reflect oversold conditions, buying volume remains muted. The $0.00430 mark has emerged as the critical inflection point; holding this level allows for a retest of $0.00475, whereas a breach beneath it exposes the token to further downside discovery.
Cardano-adjacent privacy blockchain token Midnight ($NIGHT) dropped approximately 18%, falling from $0.05 toward $0.04 with virtually no signs of dip-buying interest. The token is testing essential support near $0.041. A sustained defense could allow for an attempt to reclaim $0.045, but a failure by buyers to step in risks a decline toward $0.035. Across the wider digital asset spectrum, other substantial weekly losers included Talus ($US), which plummeted 74%, Super Inu ($SI), which dropped 50%, and Blur ($BLUR), which slipped 46%.
Why This Matters
The stark performance divergence between speculative momentum plays and underperforming utility tokens highlights a fragmented market environment. As projects like Bitway and Pearl enter technical cooling-off phases after reaching record territory, the lack of immediate bid support for retreating assets like MemeCore, Pump.fun, and Midnight underscores heightened investor caution. Market participants are prioritizing clear liquidity and decisive technical confirmation over indiscriminate dip-buying, making upcoming weekly closes around key support levels crucial for determining broader market direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the best-performing and worst-performing cryptocurrencies this week?
Bitway ($BTW), Pearl ($PRL), and Monero ($XMR) led the primary gainers, alongside massive rallies in smaller tokens like TAU FA ($TAUFA) and Quack AI ($Q). Conversely, MemeCore ($M), Pump.fun ($PUMP), and Midnight ($NIGHT) led the week’s major declines, alongside severe drawdowns in Talus ($US) and Super Inu ($SI).
What key price levels are critical for Bitway ($BTW) and Monero ($XMR)?
For Bitway ($BTW), maintaining price support above $2.30 keeps the $3.00 target active, while a close below $1.80 could spark broader capitulation. For Monero ($XMR), confirming a breakout requires clearing $575 and $600, whereas falling back under $565 risks a decline toward $540–$550.
Why are MemeCore ($M) and Pump.fun ($PUMP) seeing downward pressure despite oversold RSI indicators?
Both assets broke through major structural supports—$2.00 for MemeCore and $0.00475 for Pump.fun. Even when RSI enters oversold territory, a technical rebound requires active buyer demand and volume to halt sustained sell-offs and absorb overhead supply.
